AJ Odudu withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing final following injury

AJ Odudu has been forced to withdraw from the Strictly Come Dancing final this weekend after sustaining an ankle injury.

The TV presenter confirmed earlier this week that she was suffering from a traumatic impact injury to her right ankle, leaving her unable to stand. She remained hopeful that she would be able to compete in the final on Saturday after some rest.

However, BBC bosses announced on Friday that AJ and her professional partner Kai Widdrington had been forced to withdraw as medical professionals have ruled that she cannot dance.

Taking to Instagram, AJ posted a picture of her laying in a hospital bed with a medical boot on her right ankle. She explained in the caption that she tried many different medical options to try to make the final.

"I've had ultrasounds, MRI scans and x-rays. I've had two incisions to drain the inflammation around my ankle," she began. "I've injected local anaesthetic directly into my foot, I have been strapped up to an ice compression machine for days. I've done all I can possibly do to get back on my feet for the @bbcstrictly Final, I even asked the docs if I could perform in a medical moonboot! But the fact is, I can't stand on my feet let alone dance because I've torn my spring ligament."

The 33-year-old thanked Kai, the wider Strictly family, the medical team, and those who had been voting for her for their support.

"You've made this experience one to remember and I couldn't be more grateful for your well wishes. Strictly Come Dancing has been a lifelong dream of mine and I'm glad it came true," she concluded.

The final is usually a competition between four couples, but it was three this year as comedian Robert Webb withdrew earlier in the series due to ill health. It will now be a two-couple race between John Whaite and Johannes Radebe and Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.